scholarly journals Autoantibodies Affect Brain Density Reduction in Nonneuropsychiatric Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian Xu ◽  
Yuqi Cheng ◽  
Aiyun Lai ◽  
Zhaoping Lv ◽  
Robert A. A. Campbell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lupus Erythematosus ◽  
Structural Mri ◽  
Immunosuppressive Agent ◽  
Protective Effects ◽  
Neuropsychiatric Manifestation ◽  
Density Reduction ◽  
Conventional Mri ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Brain Density

This study explores the relationship between autoantibodies and brain density reduction in SLE patients without major neuropsychiatric manifestation (NPSLE). Ninety-five NPSLE patients without obvious cerebral deficits, as determined by conventional MRI, as well as 89 control subjects, underwent high-resolution structural MRI. Whole-brain density of grey matter (GMD) and white matter (WMD) were calculated for each individual, and correlations between the brain density, symptom severity, immunosuppressive agent (ISA), and autoantibody levels were assessed. The GMD and WMD of the SLE group decreased compared to controls. GMD was negatively associated with SLE activity. The WMD of patients who received ISA treatment were higher than that in the patients who did not. The WMD of patients with anticardiolipin (ACL) or anti-SSB/La antibodies was lower than in patients without these antibodies, while the GMD was lower in patients with anti-SM or anti-U1RNP antibodies. Thus, obvious brain atrophy can occur very early even before the development of significant symptoms and specific autoantibodies might contribute to the reduction of GMD or WMD in NPSLE patients. However, ISAs showed protective effects in minimizing GMD and WMD reduction. The presence of these specific autoantibodies might help identify early brain damage in NPSLE patients.

A Single Medical Marker for Diagnosis of Methamphetamine Addiction - DNA Methylation of SHATI/NAT8L Promoter Sites from Patient Blood

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 260-264 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kusui Yuka ◽  
Daisuke Nishizawa ◽  
Junko Hasegawa ◽  
Kyosuke Uno ◽  
Hajime Miyanishi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Methylation ◽  
Healthy Subjects ◽  
Cpg Islands ◽  
Recidivism Rate ◽  
Protective Effects ◽  
Genomic Changes ◽  
Counter Measures ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
The Brain

Background: Methamphetamine (METH) is one of the most widely distributed psychostimulants worldwide. Despite active counter measures taken by different countries, neither overall usage of METH nor the frequency of repeat users has reduced over the past decade. METH induces abuse and dependence as it acts on the central nervous system and temporarily stimulates the brain. The recidivism rate for abuse of stimulants in Japan is very high and therefore prevention of repeated usage is paramount. However, we lack information about the relationship between METH users and genomic changes in humans in Japan, which would provide important information to aid such efforts. Objective: Shati/Nat8l is a METH-inducible molecule and its overexpression has protective effects on the brain upon METH usage. Here we investigated the effect of METH usage on DNA methylation rates at the promoter site of SHATI/NAT8L. We used DNA samples from human METH users, who are usually difficult to recruit in Japan. Methods: We measured DNA methylation at SHATI/NAT8L promoter sites by pyrosequencing method using 193 samples of METH users and 60 samples of healthy subjects. In this method, DNA methylation is measured by utilizing the property that only non-methylated cytosine changes to urasil after bisulfite conversion. Results: We found that the rate of DNA methylation at six CpG islands of SHATI/NAT8L promoter sites is significantly higher in METH users when compared to healthy subjects. Conclusion: These results suggest that the DNA methylation rate of SHATI/NAT8L promotor regions offers a new diagnostic method for METH usage.

scholarly journals Predicting Individual Pain Thresholds From Morphological Connectivity Using Structural MRI: A Multivariate Analysis Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rushi Zou ◽  
Linling Li ◽  
Li Zhang ◽  
Gan Huang ◽  
Zhen Liang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pain Sensitivity ◽  
Brain Connectivity ◽  
Structural Mri ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Clinical Settings ◽  
Pain Thresholds ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
The Brain

Pain sensitivity is highly variable among individuals, and it is clinically important to predict an individual’s pain sensitivity for individualized diagnosis and management of pain. Literature has shown that pain sensitivity is associated with regional structural features of the brain, but it remains unclear whether pain sensitivity is also related to structural brain connectivity. In the present study, we investigated the relationship between pain thresholds and morphological connectivity (MC) inferred from structural MRI based on data of 221 healthy participants. We found that MC was highly predictive of an individual’s pain thresholds and, importantly, it had a better prediction performance than regional structural features. We also identified a number of most predictive MC features and confirmed the crucial role of the prefrontal cortex in the determination of pain sensitivity. These results suggest the potential of using structural MRI-based MC to predict an individual’s pain sensitivity in clinical settings, and hence this study has important implications for diagnosis and treatment of pain.

Grenzenlose Verantwortung

2010 ◽  
Vol 2010 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-22
Author(s):  
Ralf Becker
Keyword(s):  
Personal Freedom ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
The Brain

The article examines the relationship between freedom, guilt and responsibility in Dostojewski’s and Sartre’s works. Both attribute a great measure of personal freedom to man. Therefore, they do not tolerate excuses. Whoever is free, carries responsibility and gets caught up in guilt. Dostojewski’s focus is mainly on guilt, Sartre’s is on responsibility. They share the conviction that we can delegate responsibility for our actions or our way of living neither to a whole, of which we are a part, like society (the ,milieu'), nor to a part, for which we are the whole, like the ,brain' or the ,genes'. In that sense, Dostojewski’s and Sartre’s attempts at an ethic of responsibility also offer convincing arguments against determinism.

HPV VACCINE AND CERVICAL CANCER

2011 ◽  
pp. 108-115
Author(s):  
Vu Quoc Huy Nguyen
Keyword(s):  
Cervical Cancer ◽  
Relative Risk ◽  
Hpv Vaccine ◽  
Hpv Vaccination ◽  
Preventive Strategy ◽  
Protective Effects ◽  
Papilloma Virus ◽  
Vaccine Trials ◽  
Close Relationship ◽  
The Relationship

Persistent infection with high-risk Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) has been identified as the causal factor of cervical cancer, with relative risk up to 300-400 folds. This very close relationship leads to the preventive strategy of vaccination against HPV infections and HPV-related lesions. The article describes molecular and immunologic characteristics of HPV, currently available HPV vaccines and its protective effects; the relationship between HPV vaccination and cervical cancer screening, and an introduction to therapeutic HPV vaccine trials.

EXPERIMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF THE NANOPARTICLES TOXICITY OF NICKEL OXIDE IN TWO SIZES IN THE SUBCHRONIC EXPERIMENT

2018 ◽  
pp. 30-35
Author(s):  
M.P. Sutunkova ◽  
B.A. Katsnelson ◽  
L.I. Privalova ◽  
S.N. Solovjeva ◽  
V.B. Gurvich ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nickel Oxide ◽  
Nervous Activity ◽  
Equal Mass ◽  
The Body ◽  
Subchronic Toxicity ◽  
Physiological Mechanisms ◽  
Nickel Oxide Nanoparticles ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Nanoparticles Toxicity

We conducted a comparative assessment of the nickel oxide nanoparticles toxicity (NiO) of two sizes (11 and 25 nm) according to a number of indicators of the body state after repeated intraperitoneal injections of these particles suspensions. At equal mass doses, NiO nanoparticles have been found to cause various manifestations of systemic subchronic toxicity with a particularly pronounced effect on liver, kidney function, the body’s antioxidant system, lipid metabolism, white and red blood, redox metabolism, spleen damage, and some disorders of nervous activity allegedly related to the possibility of nickel penetration into the brain from the blood. The relationship between the diameter and toxicity of particles is ambiguous, which may be due to differences in toxicokinetics, which is controlled by both physiological mechanisms and direct penetration of nanoparticles through biological barriers and, finally, unequal solubility.

Polymeric Nanoparticles for Brain Drug Delivery - A Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (9) ◽  
pp. 649-660
Author(s):  
Subashini Raman ◽  
Syed Mahmood ◽  
Ayah R. Hilles ◽  
Md Noushad Javed ◽  
Motia Azmana ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Delivery ◽  
Surface Modification ◽  
Polymeric Nanoparticles ◽  
Drug Loading ◽  
Preparation Methods ◽  
Brain Drug Delivery ◽  
Polymeric Nanoparticle ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
The Brain

Background: Blood-brain barrier (BBB) plays a most hindering role in drug delivery to the brain. Recent research comes out with the nanoparticles approach, is continuously working towards improving the delivery to the brain. Currently, polymeric nanoparticle is extensively involved in many therapies for spatial and temporal targeted areas delivery. Methods: We did a non-systematic review, and the literature was searched in Google, Science Direct and PubMed. An overview is provided for the formulation of polymeric nanoparticles using different methods, effect of surface modification on the nanoparticle properties with types of polymeric nanoparticles and preparation methods. An account of different nanomedicine employed with therapeutic agent to cross the BBB alone with biodistribution of the drugs. Results: We found that various types of polymeric nanoparticle systems are available and they prosper in delivering the therapeutic amount of the drug to the targeted area. The effect of physicochemical properties on nanoformulation includes change in their size, shape, elasticity, surface charge and hydrophobicity. Surface modification of polymers or nanocarriers is also vital in the formulation of nanoparticles to enhance targeting efficiency to the brain. Conclusion: More standardized methods for the preparation of nanoparticles and to assess the relationship of surface modification on drug delivery. While the preparation and its output like drug loading, particle size, and charge, permeation is always conflicted, so it requires more attention for the acceptance of nanoparticles for brain delivery.

Integrated Biomarkers for Depression in Alzheimer’s Disease: A Critical Review

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 441-452 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sofia Wenzler ◽  
Christian Knochel ◽  
Ceylan Balaban ◽  
Dominik Kraft ◽  
Juliane Kopf ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Affect Regulation ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Diagnostic Process ◽  
Neuropsychiatric Manifestation ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Control Functional

Depression is a common neuropsychiatric manifestation among Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients. It may compromise everyday activities and lead to a faster cognitive decline as well as worse quality of life. The identification of promising biomarkers may therefore help to timely initiate and improve the treatment of preclinical and clinical states of AD, and to improve the long-term functional outcome. In this narrative review, we report studies that investigated biomarkers for AD-related depression. Genetic findings state AD-related depression as a rather complex, multifactorial trait with relevant environmental and inherited contributors. However, one specific set of genes, the brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), specifically the Val66Met polymorphism, may play a crucial role in AD-related depression. Regarding neuroimaging markers, the most promising findings reveal structural impairments in the cortico-subcortical networks that are related to affect regulation and reward / aversion control. Functional imaging studies reveal abnormalities in predominantly frontal and temporal regions. Furthermore, CSF based biomarkers are seen as potentially promising for the diagnostic process showing abnormalities in metabolic pathways that contribute to AD-related depression. However, there is a need for standardization of methodological issues and for replication of current evidence with larger cohorts and prospective studies.

The Relationship Between Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Activity and Persistent Positive Antiphospholipid Antibodies

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 145-152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhaleh Shariati Sarabi ◽  
Maryam Sahebari ◽  
Ali Etemad Rezaie ◽  
Mohammad Taghi Norouzi ◽  
Kamila Hashemzadeh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus ◽  
Lupus Erythematosus ◽  
Antiphospholipid Antibodies ◽  
Systemic Lupus ◽  
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Activity ◽  
The Relationship

Impact of markers of endothelial injury and hypercoagulability on systemic lupus erythematosus

Lupus ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 182-190
Author(s):  
W Batista Cicarini ◽  
R C Figueiredo Duarte ◽  
K Silvestre Ferreira ◽  
C de Mello Gomes Loures ◽  
R Vargas Consoli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus ◽  
Disease Activity ◽  
Lupus Erythematosus ◽  
Activity Index ◽  
Disease Activity Index ◽  
Endothelial Injury ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Systemic Lupus ◽  
Low Concentrations ◽  
The Relationship

We have explored the relationship between possible hemostatic changes and clinical manifestation of the systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) as a function of greater or lesser disease activity according to Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index-2000 (SLEDAI-2K) criteria. Endothelial injury and hypercoagulability were investigated in patients with SLE by measuring thrombomodulin (TM), D-dimer (DDi) and thrombin generation (TG) potential. A total of 90 participants were distributed into three groups: 1) women with SLE presenting with low disease activity (laSLE) (SLEDAI-2K ≤ 4), 2) women with SLE presenting with moderate to high disease activity (mhaSLE) (SLEDAI-2K > 4), and 3) a control group comprising healthy women. Levels of TM and DDi were higher both in the laSLE and mhaSLE groups compared to controls and in mhaSLE compared to the laSLE group. With respect to TG assay, lagtime and endogen thrombin potential, low concentrations of tissue factor provided the best results for discrimination among groups. Analysis of these data allow us to conclude that TM, DDi and TG are potentially useful markers for discriminating patients with very active from those with lower active disease. Higher SLE activity may cause endothelial injury, resulting in higher TG and consequently a hypercoagulability state underlying the picture of thrombosis common in this inflammatory disease.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document